Cannabis Social Clubs - Trekt Uw Planthttp://cannabis-social-clubs.org/tags/trekt-uw-plant
enMambo Social Club: ’This verdict is turning the clock backwards’http://cannabis-social-clubs.org/en/press-release/14/12/12/mambo-social-club-%E2%80%99-verdict-turning-clock-backwards%E2%80%99
<section class="field field-name-field-date field-type-datetime field-label-inline clearfix view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Date:&nbsp;</h2><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">12 Dec 2014</span></div></div></section><div class="field field-name-field-media-selector field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img class="image-style-none" src="http://cannabis-social-clubs.org/sites/default/files/media-files/images/mambo-social-club-w300x200h.jpg" width="300" height="200" /></figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h2>Press release</h2>
<p>HASSELT, Belgium– Thursday 11 december the local court of Hasselt ruled in the case against Mambo Social Club. Two board members were acquitted, the president and one of the association’s growers were condemned without sanctions. Mambo Social Club can not agree with this verdict and will appeal. “For sure this is not the end of the story, we keep our faith in the legal apparatus and turn to the court of appeal just like our colleagues at Trekt Uw Plant had to do before us.”</p>
<p>This verdict is contradictory to the intentions of Belgian drug policy: to reduce cannabis related criminality, access to minors and problematic use. The court in Hasselt still does not understand that Mambo Social Club can be an objective ally in the struggle against those problems.</p>
<p>This verdict is contradictory to the political decision to stop prosecuting possession and cultivation for own use. That decision was taken in 2005 after 8 years of political discussions and public debate. Therefore, this is a political verdict. We call upon those with political responsibility to take measures to elaborate a definitive regulation that is clear to everybody.</p>
<p>The verdict is also a gift to the illegal drugs trade. It confirms the fact that consumers are obliged to turn to the illegal market in order to obtain cannabis. If this verdict will remain in appeal the members of Mambo Social Club, among who dozens of people who have been prescribed cannabis by their doctor, will be forced to provide themselves again at the illegal market. That illegal market does not take into account the need to avoid and prevent problems, such as use by minors, health risks and public nuisance. Mambo Social Club is doing all that, but this verdict makes that impossible.</p>
<p>This verdict does not relate at all to the (inter-)national tendency to stop criminalising cannabis consumers, but search for regulatory models that serve public health and safety. At this moment, 4 American states and Uruguay have completely legalised the cannabis market, and the expectation is for this trend to continue in the coming year. In Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands the phenomenon of Cannabis Social Clubs has already been accepted by local authorities. And even in Antwerp, where the lord mayor fights a so-called ‘war on drugs’, the association Trekt Uw Plant operates already 5 years in the same way as Mambo Social Club, after having been acquitted twice in a row.</p>
<p>Finally this verdict is contradictory to the opinion of a large number of legal experts who believe that the current drugs law are not clear and do not accomplish the fundamental criteria of a state of law. This is puzzling but strengthens our faith that this verdict will not survive the test of time.</p>
<p>Of course we will appeal this verdict. We are not ready to accept that Hasselt should be an island where time stands still. We are ready to fight a long battle if needed in order to obtain our rights. We believe in the model of the social club and we are convinced that we can contribute to a better world.</p>
<p><em>Learn more at the : <a href="http://www.mambosocialclub.be/" target="_blank" class="spip_out">Mambo Social Club</a> website.</em></p>
</div></div></div><section class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/cannabis-social-club">Cannabis Social Club</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/create-article">Mambo Social Club</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/belgium">Belgium</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/trekt-uw-plant">Trekt Uw Plant</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/hasselt">Hasselt</a></li></ul></section><ul class="links inline"><li class="translation_nl first last"><a href="/nl/persberichten/14/12/12/mambo-social-club-%E2%80%99dit-vonnis-niet-van-deze-tijd%E2%80%99" title="Mambo Social Club: ’Dit vonnis is niet van deze tijd’" class="translation-link" xml:lang="nl"><img class="language-icon image-style-none" src="http://cannabis-social-clubs.org/sites/all/modules/languageicons/flags/nl.png" width="16" height="12" alt="Nederlands" title="Nederlands" /> Nederlands</a></li></ul>Tue, 16 Dec 2014 09:40:27 +0000Joep Oomen47 at http://cannabis-social-clubs.orgPanel debate on Cannabis Social Clubs | Cannabis University | Cannabis Liberation Day 2017 http://cannabis-social-clubs.org/en/video/panel-debate-cannabis-social-clubs-cannabis-university-cannabis-liberation-day-2017
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</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Published on 26 Jun 2017</p>
<p>Cannabis Social Clubs panel debate inside the Cannabis University at Cannabis Liberation Day 2017 with Rosaria Ricci, Martin Barriuso, Greg de Hoedt and Els Vermeesch.</p>
<p>Rosaria Ricci</p>
<p>Founder and chairwoman of the first Dutch Cannabis Social Club, Tree of Life in Amsterdam, since 2014. The club tries to obtain an exemption from the Opium Law for cultivation at a central location, linked to scientific research.</p>
<p>Martin Barriuso (Spain)</p>
<p>President of Basque Cannabis Social Club Pannagh in Bilbao and one of the most respected leaders of the CSC movement. In 2015, several board members of Pannagh, including Martin, were sentenced to eight months suspended prison sentence and a fine of €250,000. Their appeal is still pending.</p>
<p>Greg de Hoedt (United Kingdom)</p>
<p>Medicinal cannabis user and activist Greg de Hoedt is co-founder and chairman of UK Cannabis Social Clubs. He uses cannabis for Crohn's disease.</p>
<p>Els Vermeesch</p>
<p>President of Cannabis Social Club Trekt Uw Plant Vzw. Hundreds of patients relied on the first Cannabis Social Club of the country Trekt Uw Plant. But after winning in court twice before, they’ve had to endure being tailed, their homes bugged, phones tapped and being GPS-traced for more than one year. This lead to a raid with excessive force by the Belgium Police, raiding 18 homes and making 3 arrests.</p>
<p>Two members, including Els, were finally released after 2 weeks imprisonment. The third was released later.</p>
<p>Cannabis News Network is a news journal which publishes only cannabis related news.</p>
<p>Find out more: <a href="http://www.cannabisnewsnetwork.com/">http://www.cannabisnewsnetwork.com/</a></p>
</div></div></div><section class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/pannagh">Pannagh</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/cannabis-liberation-day">Cannabis Liberation Day</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/rosaria-ricci">Rosaria Ricci</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/martin-barriuso">Martin Barriuso</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/greg-de-hoedt">Greg de Hoedt</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/els-vermeesch">Els Vermeesch</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/trekt-uw-plant">Trekt Uw Plant</a></li></ul></section>Wed, 28 Jun 2017 06:15:24 +0000Richard Rainsford112 at http://cannabis-social-clubs.org3rd Raid at Belgian Cannabis Social Clubhttp://cannabis-social-clubs.org/en/press-release/17/05/08/3rd-raid-belgian-cannabis-social-club
<section class="field field-name-field-date field-type-datetime field-label-inline clearfix view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Date:&nbsp;</h2><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">08 May 2017</span></div></div></section><div class="field field-name-field-media-selector field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img class="image-style-none" src="http://cannabis-social-clubs.org/sites/default/files/media-files/images/free-manu-moreau.jpg" width="630" height="420" /></figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><h1 dir="ltr">Press Release</h1>
<p dir="ltr">European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies</p>
<h5 dir="ltr">Antwerp 8th May 2017</h5>
<h3 dir="ltr">Free Manu Moreau</h3>
<p dir="ltr">What happened on the 4th of May?</p>
<p dir="ltr">During the recent raids of the Belgian police 14 people were summoned and 3 arrested by the prosecutor and one of them is the world renown stand-up comedian Manu Moreau. All are members of Cannabis Social Club Trekt Uw Plant and stand accused of dealing in cannabis and money laundering.</p>
<p></p>
<p dir="ltr">The news is a real shock for the European drug reform movement that considers this initiative as a sudden reversal of the prohibitionist forces against Belgian activists. A circumstance that apparently seems at odds with the Belgian judiciary and more important, with the growing concern about the need of our societies to regulate cannabis That’s also the core argument of most jurists .The urgency of legal regulation was also evoked a few days ago by Naples's judges, by the Anti-mafia and by the Italian general attorney Henry John Woodcock.</p>
<p></p>
<p dir="ltr">By arresting an artist like Manu Moreau and his colleagues from Trekt Uw Plant the Belgian authorities are facing the dilemma of prosecuting the very people that have been working, at their own risk, to change the appalling situation of a legal system that backs criminals and prosecutes citizens.</p>
<p></p>
<p dir="ltr">Despite this case we want the present situation to be resolved positively for the Belgian and European society as a whole.</p>
<p></p>
<p dir="ltr">Since 2006 the cannabis association Trekt Uw Plant applies the Belgian that rules allows for the possession of one female plant per citizen.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It is typical of small countries to be lenient and modest. Accordingly the Belgian royal decree passed the first state ruling to re-legalize cannabis and to regulate its small scale production. Much earlier than Uruguay, Colorado and the whole West Coast of the USA.</p>
<p></p>
<p dir="ltr">As a result the Antwerp cannabis club Trekt Uw Plant has grown and distributed cannabis to its 400 members for over ten years. This is also made possible by the non-profit nature of such an activity, that abide to the statutes of charitable organisations. Two earlier court cases have already been fought and won by TUP in a higher appeal.</p>
<p></p>
<p dir="ltr">The Belgian regulatory model represents a good example of what should and should not be done.</p>
<p></p>
<p dir="ltr">At at 13:00hrs on Tuesday 9th of May a special demo will be organised for Manu Moreau at the justitiepaleis in Antwerp.</p>
<p></p>
<p dir="ltr">Freedom to Farm!<br class="kix-line-break" /><br />
Freedom and Sunshine for all cannabis artists!</p>
<p>#freemanumoreau</p>
</div></div></div><section class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/cannabis-social-club">Cannabis Social Club</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/freedom-farm">Freedom To Farm</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/free-manu-moreau">Free Manu Moreau</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/trekt-uw-plant">Trekt Uw Plant</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/tup">TuP</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/antwerp">Antwerp</a></li></ul></section><ul class="links inline"><li class="translation_fr first"><a href="/fr/communiques-de-presse/17/05/08/3eme-perquisition-au-cannabis-social-club-belge" title="3ème perquisition au Cannabis Social Club Belge " class="translation-link" xml:lang="fr"><img class="language-icon image-style-none" src="http://cannabis-social-clubs.org/sites/all/modules/languageicons/flags/fr.png" width="16" height="12" alt="Français" title="Français" /> Français</a></li><li class="translation_it"><a href="/it/comunicati-stampa/17/05/08/manu-moreau-trekt-uw-plant-csc-cannabis-social-clubs-cannabissocialclubs" title="Manu Moreau, Trekt Uw Plant, CSC, Cannabis-Social-Clubs, CannabisSocialClubs, cannabis-clubs, Encod" class="translation-link" xml:lang="it"><img class="language-icon image-style-none" src="http://cannabis-social-clubs.org/sites/all/modules/languageicons/flags/it.png" width="16" height="12" alt="Italiano" title="Italiano" /> Italiano</a></li><li class="translation_es last"><a href="/es/notas-de-prensa/17/05/08/tercera-incursion-en-trekt-uw-plant-csc-de-belgica" title="Tercera incursión en Trekt Uw Plant, CSC de Bélgica" class="translation-link" xml:lang="es"><img class="language-icon image-style-none" src="http://cannabis-social-clubs.org/sites/all/modules/languageicons/flags/es.png" width="16" height="12" alt="Español" title="Español" /> Español</a></li></ul>Mon, 08 May 2017 12:56:04 +0000Richard Rainsford105 at http://cannabis-social-clubs.orgMichel Degens European Parliament 2nd May 2017http://cannabis-social-clubs.org/en/video/michel-degens-european-parliament-2nd-may-2017
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</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Founder &amp; president of Mambo Social Club and Spokesperson for Trekt Uw Plant vzw (Cannabis Social Club) Michel Degens, presenting at the European Parliament in 2nd May 2017.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.trektuwplant.be">http://www.trektuwplant.be</a><br /><a href="http://www.mambosocialclub.be">http://www.mambosocialclub.be</a><br /><a href="http://www.encod.org">http://www.encod.org</a><br /><a href="https://cannabis-social-clubs.eu">https://cannabis-social-clubs.eu</a></p>
</div></div></div><section class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/cannabis-social-clubs">Cannabis Social Clubs</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/csc">CSC</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/peace-drugs">Peace on Drugs</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/cannabis-regulation">Cannabis Regulation</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/create-article">Mambo Social Club</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/trekt-uw-plant">Trekt Uw Plant</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/tup">TuP</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/create-video">Encod</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/freedom-farm">Freedom To Farm</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/european-parliament">European Parliament</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/harm-reduction">Harm Reduction</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/taxonomy/term/57">drug laws</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/medicine">medicine</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/home-cultivation">home cultivation</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/medicinal-cannabis">medicinal cannabis</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/collective-cultivation">collective cultivation</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/european-union">European Union</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/regulate">regulate</a></li><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/legalisation">legalisation</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/legal-frame-work">legal frame-work</a></li></ul></section>Sat, 06 May 2017 09:22:06 +0000Richard Rainsford104 at http://cannabis-social-clubs.orgTrekt Uw Plant, Belgiumhttp://cannabis-social-clubs.org/en/trekt-uw-plant-belgium
<div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><figure class="clearfix field-item even"><img class="image-style-large" src="http://cannabis-social-clubs.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/trekt-uw-plant-belgium_w213x300h.jpg?itok=HDkJ66eJ" width="213" height="300" alt="Trekt Uw Plant, Belgium, plants the first mother-plant seed." /></figure></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden view-mode-rss"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><em><br /><h2>Trekt Uw Plant allows Belgian cannabis consumers to provide themselves with cannabis without any commercial trade taking place. Every member can grow his/her personal plant in our collective plantation, according to strict but simple rules and statutes.</h2></em>
</p><p>On Thursday 27 July 2006, Trekt Uw Plant, an association of cannabis consumers based in Antwerp, Belgium, put the <a href="http://www.cannaclopedia.be/TUPtxtNL" class="spip_out" rel="external">seed of the first mother plant</a> that would provide the clones of the first legal collective cannabis plantation in Belgium.</p>
<p>Trekt Uw Plant bases itself on the Royal Decree of 2003 and the <a href="http://www.staatsbladclip.be/wetten/2005/01/31/wet-2005009061.html" class="spip_out" rel="external">Ministerial Guideline of January 2005</a>, signed by the Belgian Minister of Justice and all 5 General Prosectors. According to this guideline the possession of max. 3 grammes cannabis and/or 1 female cannabisplant by adults will not be prosecuted anymore, if there are no aggravating circumstances (presence of minors, public disorder etc.). It can be registered by police, but is not followed up by legal sanctions.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, 12 december 2006, the presentation of the plantation took place in the Botanical Garden of the city of Antwerpen, with the permission of local authorities, including the police. The definitive location of the plantation remained a secret for the public, though the association had informed the authorities so the necessary control could be implemented in a relaxed atmosphere.</p>
<p><img src="/sites/default/files/trekt_uw_plant-12126-c2e1b_w450x338h.jpg" alt="Trekt Uw Plant, Belgium, plants the first mother-plant seed." height="338" width="450" /></p>
<p>See the <a href="http://streamyou.be/atv/nieuws_2006_12_13/Cannabis.wmv" class="spip_out" rel="external">report of the local Antwerp TV station</a> (in Flemish), of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqmr8vvs4rM&amp;mode=related&amp;search=cannabis%20hardcoreharmreducer%20trektuwplant%20belgium%20attac%20prohibition" class="spip_out" rel="external">Exzessiv TV</a> ,</p>
<p>Under massive presence of national and international media, 6 members of Trekt Uw Plant among whom <a href="http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/459/belgian_representative_stijn_bex_joins_nascent_cannabis_social_club" class="spip_out" rel="external">Stijn Bex</a>.<br />
member of the federal parliament in Belgium for Spirit (a party that belongs to the government coalition), took each their clone of the motherplant.</p>
<p>During the transport of the plantation to its final location, without the presence of the media, the police intervened and arrested four members of the association.</p>
<p>The 6 cannabis plants were confiscated, and the four people were arrested. During 4 hours, they were interrogated on the accusation of being involved in the production of drugs. Their houses were searched, their mobile phones and personal agendas were confiscated.</p>
<p>Furthermore the computer, financial administration and other documents of the association were confiscated.</p>
<p><img src="/sites/default/files/trekt_uw_plant-12125-efc3f_w400x300h.jpg" alt="Trekt Uw Plant CSC" height="300" width="400" /></p>
<h3><strong>Court case</strong></h3>
<p>Both for the planting of the seed and the presentation of the plantation, <a href="/sites/default/files/toelating_1212.pdf" class="spip_in" type="application/pdf">permission had been requested and obtained</a> from the Antwerp local authorities, after a positive advise by the Antwerp police force, section public order.</p>
<p>However, the Antwerp DA, "substituut-procureur" Olivier Lins, has decided to ignore the ministerial guideline. He considers "Trekt Uw Plant" to be a criminal organization that intends to use the ambiguity of the law for criminal purposes. In the past, Lins has stated that he is opposed the cannabis guideline and that he would like to see it abolished, in order to make an end to the reform policy toward cannabis which has been implemented by the Belgian federal government during the past years.</p>
<p>
<img src="/sites/default/files/trekt_uw_plant-12123-f7797_w400x300h.jpg" alt="Trekt Uw Plant launch" height="300" width="400" /></p>
<p>On 28 March 2007, the courtcase took place before the Antwerp local courts. See a report on <a href="http://www.atv.be/v3/newsdetail.aspx?mid=2&amp;id=4877" class="spip_out" rel="external">ATV Television</a>, Interview with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4hqB3bQNoI" class="spip_out" rel="external">lawyer Tom Goossens</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQPAHvDJ09w&amp;mode=related&amp;search=" class="spip_out" rel="external">TUP president Stijn Goossens</a></p>
<p>The prosecutor requested the following sanctions: dissolution of the association, ’forced social labour ’ of resp 60 and 80 hours for 2 of the 5 members of the association who had been convicted for drug related charges before (years ago), and no sanctions for the 3 other members.</p>
<p>Our lawyer, Tom Goossens, made a <a href="/sites/default/files/conclusie_advocaat.pdf" class="spip_in" type="application/pdf">long and brilliant reply</a>, countering the accusation on three points:</p>
<p><img src="/sites/default/files/images/bullet-point-arrow_w8x11h.gif" class="puce" alt="Bullet Point" height="11" width="8" /> The Belgian legislation on cannabis possession is absolutely unclear. If we are condemned, then one can just as well tear the ministerial guideline into pieces.</p>
<p><img src="/sites/default/files/images/bullet-point-arrow_w8x11h.gif" class="puce" alt="Bullet Point" height="11" width="8" /> The accusation of forming a criminal association is absurd. Our association does not contain any of the fundamental characteristics of a criminal organisation. It would be the same if a group of bank robbers would publish their plans in a press release before and ask (and obtain!) permission for them from the local police.</p>
<p><img src="/sites/default/files/images/bullet-point-arrow_w8x11h.gif" class="puce" alt="Bullet Point" height="11" width="8" /> It is unsure what has to be understood with the term ’cannabis’ in the Belgian legislation. If one follows the UN Convention of 1961 (what normally happens) there is just reference to the flowering buds of the plant, not to the seeds or leaves. When we were arrested, the plants were ten centimeters high and did not carry buds.</p>
<h3>The defense requested absolution.</h3>
<p><img src="/sites/default/files/trekt_uw_plant-12121-9f0f7-w400x533h.jpg" alt="Trekt Uw Plant is not a criminal organisation" height="533" width="400" /></p>
<p>The verdict came on 25 April 2007. That day, the judge sentenced that Trekt Uw Plant is not a criminal organisation. The request of the prosecutor to suspend the association was therefore denied. This means explicitly that there were no aggravating circumstances in this case, which were invoked by prosecutor Lins to accuse us.</p>
<p>See the reaction of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgjJg_Bn9_E&amp;mode=user&amp;search=" class="spip_out" rel="external">lawyer Tom Goossens</a></p>
<p>However, the judge has also sentenced that the cultivation of cannabis is always illegal, and that the ministerial guideline does not have to be followed. She concludes that complete accquittance is impossible: of the 5 accused members, 3 members do not receive any sanctions, and 2 members are given a fine of 15 (fifteen) euro each, as they have been accused before of drug related offences (possesion for personal use, in 1969 and 1991 resp). This sanction is minimal in comparison with the jail term of max. 5 years which we had been informally warned for by a representative of the Antwerp prosecuter office in October 2006.</p>
<p>The judge has sentenced that cultivating cannabis is punishable and no lack of clarity exists in the legislation. She refers to the contradictory communication by politicians and media as the cause for confusion amongst individual citizens concerning the status of this guideline and therefore of the cultivation of cannabis as a whole.</p>
<p>Trekt Uw Plant did not base itself on communications from politicians or media. We have strictly accomplished the regulation stated by the Royal Decree of 2003 and the subsequent Ministerial Guideline of 2005 that replaces the text on cannabis from the RD agter this text was eliminated by a sentence of the Arbitrary Court in 2004.</p>
<p>At each step, we have done everything to remain within the framework of the law. Every detail was considered extremely carefully. And besides, we asked and obtained permission for the establishment of the plantation from the local Antwerp authorities following positive recommendation of the Antwerp police.</p>
<p><img src="/sites/default/files/trekt_uw_plant-b0514_w600x450h.jpg" alt="Trekt Uw Plant, Belgium, plants the first mother-plant seed." height="450" width="600" /></p>
<p>This sentence ignores the political decision to stop persecuting possession and cultivation of cannabis for personal consumption. This decision has been taken after 8 years of political decisions and debate in society. This is a political sentence, which obliges political decision makers to take a stand.</p>
<p>See the message of gratefulness brought by the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJqPzaBVx5Y" class="spip_out" rel="external">Antwerp drug gangs to the judge.</a></p>
<p>The good news is that Trekt Uw Plant is considered to be a legal association. Our initiative can now be repeated in the whole country. We are satisfied with the fact that our name has been cleared: But we do not agree with the interpretation of the legislation on cannabis cultivation. We will therefore go into appeal. The fact that we need to provoke this court case means that the legal status of cannabis cultivation for personal consumption is not clear enough. We call on the politicians to start working out a definitive regulation after the elections on 10 June.</p>
<p>TREKT UW PLANT continues. We are ready for a long term struggle to obtain our right. We call upon all people who agree with us to become a member or support us in other ways.</p>
<p>The case in appeal will be dealt with on June 12th, 2008.</p>
<p>Joep Oomen - Philippe De Craene</p>
<p><a href="http://www.trektuwplant.be" class="spip_out" rel="external">TREKT UW PLANT vzw</a></p>
<p>Lange Lozanastraat 14 2018 Antwerpen</p>
<p>Tel. 03 293 0886 GSM: 0494/80 73 50 / 0495 122 644</p>
<p>E-mail: <a href="mailto:info@encod.org" class="spip_mail">Joep Oomen</a></p>
</div></div></div><section class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above view-mode-rss"><h2 class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</h2><ul class="field-items"><li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/trekt-uw-plant">Trekt Uw Plant</a></li><li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/belgium">Belgium</a></li></ul></section>Sun, 07 Oct 2007 22:00:00 +0000Joep Oomen43 at http://cannabis-social-clubs.org